disgust
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
-
repugnance caused by something offensive; strong aversion.
He left the room in disgust.
- Synonyms:
- antipathy, detestation, abhorrence
- Antonyms:
- relish
verb
-
to sicken or fill with loathing
-
to offend the moral sense, principles, or taste of
noun
-
a great loathing or distaste aroused by someone or something
-
as a result of disgust
Synonym Usage
See dislike.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
disgustednessnoun
-
predisgustnoun
-
self-disgustnoun
-
quasi-disgustedadjective
-
undisgustedadjective
-
disgustedlyadverb
-
quasi-disgustedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
disgustsimple
-
disgustssimple
-
have disgustedperfect
-
has disgustedperfect
-
am disgustingprogressive
-
are disgustingprogressive
-
is disgustingprogressive
-
have been disgustingperfect progressive
-
has been disgustingperfect progressive
Past
-
disgustedsimple
-
had disgustedperfect
-
was disgustingprogressive
-
were disgustingprogressive
-
had been disgustingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disgust
First recorded in 1590–1600; (for the verb) from Middle French desgouster, from des- dis- 1 + gouster “to taste, relish” (derivative of goust “taste,” from Latin gusta; see also choose); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
Disgust is a strong feeling of dislike. If you can't stand peas, you might wrinkle your nose in disgust when you are served a bowl of pea soup. Disgust is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it's a reaction to something you think is gross or terrible, like showing your disgust at a movie by getting up and leaving. As a verb, disgust means "to offend," like when your class's bad behavior at the assembly disgusts all the teachers, or "to gross out or revolt." If you pick your nose in public, you will disgust everyone around you.
Vocabulary lists containing disgust
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Emotions on Display
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I hope they put those people who killed him in prison for many years,” he said with disgust.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
In response, the managing director of the country’s soccer federation resigned in disgust, and the team left South Africa winless after scoring just once in three games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
In 2012, Ronaldo inspired Real to their first La Liga title in four years but it was Messi who picked up his fourth straight Ballon d'Or award - much to his rival's disgust.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
We get a clear-eyed look at disgust, a nearly universal human response to the likes of maggots, cockroaches, ticks, leeches, slugs and lice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
As he did, he cried out in disgust.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Monica Missio, the mother of victim Nicholas Cleves, told the courtroom: "It disgusts me that he gets to wake up every day while my son does not."
From BBC ● May 18, 2023
“It saddens me, it disgusts me and disheartens me,” Alvarez said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2023
“It really disgusts me,” said Romain Le Riguer, a 20-year-old literature student, who had spontaneously come to the plaza.
From New York Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
“It really disgusts me,” said Republican South Carolina state Sen. Katrina Shealy, ripping into her male colleagues on the floor of the state Senate.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 25, 2022
To think that I was denied something because of the fact that I was not wearing a tie but was still following the dress code disgusts me.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned about a growing parasitic outbreak that causes explosive diarrhea, which has delighted and disgusted the internet, because of course it has.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
She argues that Richmond, alienated from the king and disgusted by parliamentary passivity, kindled a printed firestorm in the public sphere.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
"I am disgusted by the way my parents were treated."
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
The investor messaged de Min to ask: "Are you not the slightest ashamed and disgusted just stealing my money and my family's money?"
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026
Davenport gave Henry and me a disgusted look and turned half away as if to say: this is all your fault.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
“Allegations that DHS law enforcement engages in ‘racial profiling’ are disgusting, reckless, and categorically FALSE,” the spokesperson wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
"The police made me feel like I was disgusting," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
“As for other speed competitions testing human physical attributes,” he writes testily, “there is no stranger category than the many kinds of disgusting speed-eating contests.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
“You are all disgusting wet batter,” barks a pastry baker.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
The disgusting dog, as Audrey put it, was Lumpy, the Labrador mix Conner had found two years ago.
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
